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Chet vs Wemby: Is it Still a Thing in the 2025-26 Season?

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Both Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama are the centers of the future NBA. But, neither player was able to show their full potential in the game due to injuries. Since both missed a huge chunk of games last season, the Chet vs. Wemby spectacle is expected to retake full effect in the 2025-26 season.

We have seen how grueling injuries can be. Holmgren ended up playing only a total of 32 regular-season games. Wemby went for 46 games before being out for the rest of the campaign. The Spurs big did become an All-Star, while the Thunder center ended up winning a championship. These are the two mirrors of what could have been. We’ve only seen one full season of their swashbuckling showdowns, and fans are yearning for more.

Chet vs Wemby: Is it Still a Thing in the 2025-26 Season?

With the long offseason still in place, many people are wondering if this budding rivalry is still alive. After all, it has been quite some time since the two players have met on the court.

Chet Holmgren’s “Comeback” Season

Before this blows out of context, Holmgren’s supposed comeback season should have come next year. But given the circumstances of his injury, there’s no denying that he had a bounce-back run to finish the 2024-25 season. After a superb start, the Oklahoma City Thunder big man ended up injuring his right iliac wing, resulting in a pelvis fracture, and he was out for months.

The Gonzaga product missed games from November to early February, where he later made his return prior to the All-Star break. Eventually, Holmgren made his presence felt in the OKC playoff run, which saw them win the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. In the decisive Game Seven, the center became instrumental in the win; posting 18 points, eight boards, and five blocks.

If you are not impressed, those five blocks were crucial in sealing the deal for Oklahoma City. It was also a new record for the most blocks in an NBA Finals Game 7. By the end of it all, Holmgren played a total of 55 games, including the playoffs. It was essentially impressive for a player who missed a massive portion of the season. Considering his health, it was timely that he was there for the playoffs and did not miss a single game. Now, he’s been rewarded with a new deal from the Thunder.

Victor Wembanyama’s “Short-Lived” Star Season

Had it not been for the injuries, we all know that Wemby would’ve won Defensive Player of the Year. Ever since he entered the league, he’s led in blocks (3.6 BPG in 2023-24, 3.8 in 2024-25), and has been a massive force for the San Antonio Spurs. After the All-Star break, the Alien was already out of the picture as he recovered from a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his right shoulder.

Wembanyama had a huge year. He scored the third-most points in a Christmas Day debut. He also became the sixth player to record a 30-point, 10-block game. The Spurs center even set the new record for most consecutive games with a block at 62. He had the makings of an All-NBA season, and all it took to take him out of the conversation was a blood clot.

At this point, the French phenom has been really fun to watch. He has grown so much and has improved his game at a high level. This, of course, also correlates to the fact that he is embracing a leadership role in San Antonio. Now that he’s surrounded by a lot of talented players in a balanced roster, a playoff run is definitely due for him.

Can Chet vs Wemby Take Shape Next Season?

Barring injuries, it is safe to say that we’ll get loads of Chet vs Wemby showdowns in the next campaign. After all, these two centers are starting to define the prominence of centers on the big stage. With Holmgren winning a championship with OKC and Wemby kickstarting a Spurs resurgence—it seems that the stakes just got elevated.

After all, we may see these two big men clash in the most important games that will define their legacies as the future of NBA centers. If you’re not excited, the best-case scenario is that we’ll get to see them meet at least four times in the regular season. A potential showdown in the Emirates NBA Cup could also be in store. But perhaps the best of them all, a possible seven-game series clash in the NBA Playoffs.

At this point, the hype of Chet vs Wemby still lives on for many fans. It is a rivalry that will last for the entirety of their careers, whether they like it or not. On top of that, who doesn’t want a showdown between two of the best rising talents in the NBA?

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The post Chet vs Wemby: Is it Still a Thing in the 2025-26 Season? appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.